Liposuction with fat transfer is a great option for people who want to reduce fat in certain areas but enhance others at the same time. Basically, fat is removed via traditional liposuction, and then it is purified and injected strategically into areas that need more volume. The most common areas that fat is removed from include the abdomen, hips and thighs. This fat is often transferred to the breasts or buttocks. Fat transfers are safe and effective, and many patients appreciate that the enhancement is derived from their own body, not an outside source.

The Procedure

Fat transfers are generally performed in a surgeon’s office, hospital or outpatient surgical center. The procedure may take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the amount of fat that is being transferred, the patient’s health, and other factors. Simple procedures are performed under local anesthesia, but general anesthetic may be required for more complex procedures, especially if several procedures are being done at the same time.

First, the fat is removed from the designated site(s) by liposuction. These fat cells are purified and processed by the surgeon before being injected into the area they are transferred to. Some surgeons strain the fat cells, while others spin them. Most surgeons use a device to purify the fat cells and concentrate them so that they are ready to be injected into a different area of the body very quickly. The purified fat cells are then injected carefully into the desired areas.

Recovery Time

Patients are usually unable to drive themselves home after a liposuction and fat transfer procedure, so you should be prepared to ask someone to drive you home. Another person may also be needed to help you with basic activities during the recovery period. Your surgeon will give you a list of specific instructions that you must follow after your fat transfer procedure. Depending on the complexity of your procedure, your surgeon may recommend that you don’t do any activities that will strain your body for two or three weeks. The surgeon will remove all bandages from your body about two or three days after your fat transfer and you will be able to shower again when they have been removed.

It is common for the treated area to be red for about two days following the fat transfer procedure. Any bruising usually disappears within two weeks, and it may take about a month for the swelling to completely go down at the injection site. Your surgeon will give you a prescription for pain medication or discuss over-the-counter medications with you before surgery and again before you go home after the fat transfer procedure is complete. Keep in mind that it may be a month or two before you are able to see the final results of the liposuction and fat transfer procedure.

Benefits of Liposuction and Fat Transfer

Fat transfer is considered the most safe and effective way to augment the breasts, because no artificial objects are introduced to the body. It is also recommended for use as facial filler for patients who have allergic reactions to the fillers that are currently on the market. The breasts also look and feel natural because there is no difference between the composition of the fat on your abdomen and the fat in your breasts. Recovery time after liposuction and fat transfer is generally minimal, and most patients are able to return to work after about ten days.

Exercise and dietary changes are effective for fat loss, but they cannot necessarily change how fat is distributed in your body. Liposuction and fat transfer is a great way to reshape your body in this manner. This procedure has helped thousands of men and women sculpt their bodies into the shape they have always desired.

Most people would love to be able to reshape their bodies and move fat from one area to another—and now that’s possible!